2021
Blesma Updates for 2021, covering news, activities and fundraising events for limbless veterans.
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The 660 Tour of Britain
30 May 2021
A Group of six serving personnel from 660 Signal Troop have set themselves a target of cycling 1,236 miles around Britain to raise funds for Blesma and the Royal Signals charity. The team plan to hit the road on 28 June and are aiming to complete their mission in just 11 days. “I took up cycling last year as an escape during the first lockdown, and I got the bug,” said Staff Sergeant Jon Wilkinson, who has served with the regiment for 18 years. “I came up with the idea of visiting each of the 11 regiment headquarters, as previously 6
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Iain McAfee takes on epic birthday Challenge for Blesma
28 May 2021
Iain McAfee is celebrating turning 50 by fundraising for Blesma. Iain will turn 50 on 29th May, and after coming across Blesma through his work, he was inspired to raise funds for the cause. Inspiration for his milestone celebrations came from his habit of daily lockdown walks to support both his physical and mental health and he is hoping to raise £500 for the Association. Iain, who lives Ballymoney, said: “Each day I will be walking an average of five mil
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Charmaine 'So much happier' now she is walking again
25 May 2021
Royal Signals veteran Charmaine Healy is walking again, more than three years since she was last able to use her prosthetic. Charmaine’s left leg was amputated below the knee following a bomb blast in Afghanistan in 2010, and she has struggled with pain ever since. She has had eight operations in the last decade, and her most recent one – last July – has allowed her to use her prosthetic leg again. “My skin started to break down in 2017 which caused an infection. It was really painful, and I eventually found out the infections had led to a sinus tract,” said
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Paralympic gold medallist retires after 11-year career
21 May 2021
Blesma Member Jon-Allan Butterworth MBE, who became the first British veteran injured in Iraq or Afghanistan to win a Paralympic gold, retired from professional cycling in December after an 11-year career. “I wanted Tokyo to be my last Paralympic Games, but when they were postponed I knew I would have to spend another 18 months sacrificing a lot of things and training in lockdown,” said the 35-year-old former RAF Weapons Technician. “It’s hard to live the Paralympic cycle life, and I realised I’d be more gutted if I committed to training an
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